Pneumatic flyer cleaning device



S. DENIS Nov. 12, 1968 PNEUMATIC FLYER CLEANING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 24, 1967 vwvwvyvvvv INVENTOR.

SAMUfL DEN/5 A r m/v5 rs Nov. 12, 1968 5, [EMS 3,410,070

PNEUMATIC FLYER CLEANING DEVICE Filed April 24, 1.967 2 Sheets$heet 2 INVENTOR. SA M (/5 L DEN/S ATTORA/fYS United States Patent 3,410,070 PNEUMATIC FLYER CLEANING DEVICE Samuel Denis, Winterthur, Switzerland, assignor to Maschinenfabrik Rieter A.G., Winterthur, Switzerland, a corporation of Switzerland Filed Apr. 24, 1967, Ser. No. 633,029 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Apr. 25, 1966, 6,073/66 17 Claims. (Cl. 57-56) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Streams of air are positively blown angularly across the upper surface of the bobbin carriage to the rear and withdrawn from the carriage rear across the spindle gear trough to a vacuum pressure area, The positive streams of air eliminate fly in the regions affected by the air currents created by the rotating spindles.

This invention relates to a device.

With increasing operational speeds of flyer machines and increasing speeds of flyers, fly formation at the draw frames as well as in the region of the bobbins has been augmented. This has caused an increase in the accumulation of soil on the draw frame as well as on the bobbin carriage and gear trough.

Heretofore, flyer machines have had the region above the roller beams including the draw frame mechanism encased and exhausted by streams of air so as to withdraw the fly accumulating therein. Similar flyer machines have also been suggested with the encasements designed to surround the draw frame mechanism by extending over the spindles on the flyer machines in order to further draw off the fly produced by the slubbing during passage from the draw frame to the top of the flyer. Still other machines have been known wherein a cleaning device has been provided adjacent the roller-beam-cleaner above the bobbin carriage in the region of the bobbins for the purpose of absorbing and exhausting the fiber material separated from the rotating bobbins.

However, the devices utilized by the heretofore known fiyer machines to draw off any fly have been disadvantageous in that the suction effect upon which each has relied cannot reach the zones behind and below the bobbin carriages. Further, the suction effect has not been suflicient to effectively exhaust the region behind the rear rows of bobbins so as to eliminate the fly accumulated on the bobbin carriage in this region. The foremost reason for the deficiencies of the suction effects of these devices is that in the upper part of the bob-bin unit and the fiyer unit, especially when the bobbin carriage is in its upper position, a quite characteristic and cumulative air current is created by the rotating spindles and bobbins against which no exhaust nozzle disposed in these areas can become effective. This is especially so if the nozzle is arranged significantly above the encasing of the bobbin carriage when the carriage is in the upper position as is the case in the heretofore known machines.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to effectively clean the region behind all the rows of bobbins on a flyer machine.

It is another object of the invention to pneumatically exhaust the entire upper surface of a bobbin carriage.

It is another object of the invention to eliminate accumulation of fly about the bobbins of a fiyer machine.

It is another object of the invention to eliminate accumulation of fly on the upper surface and the rear regions of a bobbin carriage of a flyer machine.

pneumatic flyer cleaning It is another object of the invention to pneumatically clean a flyer machine with exhaust streams of air.

Briefly, the invention provides a flyer machine with a plurality of air nozzles which are mounted on the front of the bobbin carriage. The air nozzles are disposed at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the carriage so as to direct streams of air across the upper surface of the carriage in a direction having a vector in the path of flow of the main air current created by the rotating bobbins. These streams of air effectively eliminate any fly accumulation on the carriage as well as behind the bobbins on the carriage. In addition, the invention provides a deflector on the rear of the bobbin carriage for directing the streams of air exhausted from the nozzles downwardly behind the rear of the carriage in order to eliminate any fly accumulation behind the carriage.

In order to further eliminate fly accumulation on the gear trough which drives the spindles on which the bobbins are mounted, the air streams directed downwardly behind the bobbin carriage are induced to flow across the top surface of the gear trough. This is achieved by positioning a deflector to the rear of the gear trough to direct the air streams across the gear trough and by creating a reduced pressure at the front of the gear trough to aid in directing the air streams across the gear trough. In addition, a plurality of air nozzles can be positioned to the rear of the gear trough to blow auxiliary streams of air across the top of the gear trough. Such air nozzles are positioned angularly to the longitudinal axis of the gear trough so as to direct air streams across the gear trough with vectors substantially coincident with the direction of the air current created by the rotating spindles.

In order to further eliminate fly accumulation on the spindle portions on which are bobbin carriage reciprocates vertically, a collapsible wall is secured to the lower end of the bobbin carriage at the front and to a fixed member disposed immediately above the gear trough. The air streams moving below the carriage are thus substantially confined to flow across the top surface of the gear trough and through the space between the collapsible wall and gear trough toward the region of reduced pressure without coming into contact with the portions of the spindles on which the bobbin carriage reciprocates.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following de tailed description and appended claims taken in conjunc tion with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a simplified cross sectional view of a flyer machine with a bobbin carriage in upper position;

FIG. 2 illustrates a partial cross sectional view .of the flyer machine of FIG. 1 with the bobbin carriage in lower position;

FIG, 3 illustrates a fragmentary plan view of the bobbin carriage; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic wiring diagram for the pneumatic system of the fiyer machine of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 1, the fiyer machine includes, in a known manner, a bobbin carriage 1 on which a plurality of staggered rows of bobbins 2 are mounted for rotation. The carriage 1 is slidably mounted on spindles 3 for reciprocal vertical movement through means of a conventional lifting assembly 30. In addition, each spindle 3 passes through a bobbin 2 in known manner and mounts a flyer 4 at the top. In operation, the bobbin carriage 1 together with the bobbins is reciprocated vertically by means of the lifting assembly 30 in accordance with the stroke necessary for the build-up of bobbin 2. At the same time, the bobbins 2 rotate clockwise, as viewed, on the spindles 3 and the flyers 4 rotate about the bobbins in the same clockwise manner but at a slightly slower speed so that a twist is set in the roving during buildup of the bobbins.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, as the bobbins and spindles rotate, for example, at approximately 1500 r.p.m., a distinctly characteristic longitudinal flow of air is created between the inner spindle row 5 and the wall 6 of the flyer machine in the upper regions of the bobbins and a much weaker characteristic flow of air is created in the converse direction in the open area outside the outer spindle row 7. Thus, in order to effectively clean the top surface 8 of the carriage 1 in the region between the rear row 5 of spindles and the wall 6, a cleaning flow of air is caused to directly brush the carriage surface 8. Instead of using a suction nozzle behind the rear row 5 of spindles to achieve such as suggested heretofore, a pluraltiy of air blower nozzles 9 connected to a suitable air supply 31 (FIG. 3) are mounted on the upper front end of the bobbin carriage 1. These nozzles 9 are each directed toward wall 6 angularly of the longitudinal axis of the bobbin carriage 1 so as to blow air streams (as shown in solid lines in FIG. 3) toward the wall 6 with a component K in the direction of the current of air created by the spindles and bobbins between the rear row 5 of spindles and the wall 6. The air streams are directed between the spindles of a row substantially parallel to the lines connecting neighboring spindles of adjacent rows from front to back.

Referring to FIG. 2, in order to eliminate fly accumu lation behind the rear of the bobbin carriage 1, a deflector 10 is mounted on the top of the carriage at the rear so as to direct the flow of air brushing across the carriage surface 8 downwardly between the bobbin carriage 1 and wall 6. Alternatively, the deflector 10 can be fixed to the wall 6 at a point corresponding to the lowest position of the bobbin carriage 1. In this alternative construction, the air blowers 9 can be operated only when the carriage 1 is moved into this lowest position as described below.

In order to eliminate fly accumulation from the spindle gear trough 12. which contains the drive mechanism for the spindles 3, as known, a deflector 11 is fixed to the wall 6 directly above the spindle gear trough 12. This deflector 11 directs the downwardly moving air streams from above to move across the top of the gear trough 12 toward the front of the machine. In addition, a reduced pressure source 14 is positioned to the front of the machine adjacent the gear trough 12 to create a region of reduced or vacuum pressure and to communicate with the region above the gear trough 12 through a longitudinally extending exhaust slot 13. The air streams scavenging the surface of the gear trough are thus discharged through exhaust slot 13 into the reduced pressure means or source 14. In order to assist in the cleaning or scavenging of the gear trough 12, auxiliary air blower nozzles 15 are disposed at the upper inner rim of the gear trough 12. These air blower nozzles 15 are connected to a suitable air supply 32 (FIG. 3) and directed toward the reduced pressure source 14 angularly of the longitudinal axis of the bobbin carriage 1 so as to blow air streams (shown in dotted lines in FIG. 3) with a. component in the same longitudinal direction as the air streams from nozzles 9.

Since the bobbin carriage 1 travels on spindles 3 between upper and lower positions, the upper parts of the spindles 3 on which the carriage travels is usually wetted With a lubricating film. Thus, in order to eliminate any extreme soiling of the wetted parts of the spindles by the fly-charged air streams, a flexible wall 16 is extended downwardly from the lower outside edge of the carriage 1 to a stationary rod 17 which forms the upper boundary of the exhaust slot 13 above the spindle gear trough 12. The flexible Wall 16 forms a cover preventing an untimely release of the downward flow of air from nozzles 9 to the outside of the machine so as to confine the flow of air from the nozzles 9 and 15 to the surface of the gear trough 12 as much as possible while circumventing the wetted parts of the spindles 3 as much as possible. The flexible wall 16 also serves to protect the region between the bobbin carriage and gear trough 12 from entry of additional fly from outside the machine.

Alternatively, a substantially complete elimination of fly can be effected from the spindles 3 by operating the nozzles 9 and 15 only during the reversing phase of the bobbin carriage 1. For example, referring to FIG. 1, a pair of switches 18, 19 are mounted on the wall 6 and connected to the blower nozzles 9, reduced pressure source 14 and nozzles 15 in a manner so that actuation of upper switch 18 by lowering of carriage 1 initiates expulsion of the blown air from nozzles 9 and the exhaust of source 14 through slot 13. After further lowering of carriage 1, the lower switch 19 is actuated to initiate expulsion of the blown air from nozzles 15. Upon reversal of the carriage movement, the switches deactivate the blower nozzles and reduced pressure source in an inverse manner. Such an alternative operation is of further advantage since the energy consumption of such is reduced to a fraction.

Referring to FIG. 4, in order to actuate the switches 18, 19, a feeler 20 is secured to the bobbin carriage 1 to project into the plane of the switches 18, 19. Upon closing of upper switch 18, normally open relay 21 closes to complete the circuit 22 of the solenoid valve 23 so as to open the valve 23 for admitting air through supply 31 to nozzles 9 and the circuit 24 of the motor 25 of the reduced pressure source 14 so as to actuate source 14. Thereafter, upon further downward movement of feeler 20, switch 19 closes. This closes normally open relay 26 to complete the circuit 27 of the solenoid 28 so as to open valve 28 for admitting air through supply 32 to nozzles 15. Reversal of movement of feeler 20 causes an inverse actuation of the solenoid valves 28, 23 and motor 25.

Having thus described the invention, it is not intended that it be so limited as changes may be readily made therein without departing from the scope of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended that the foregoing Abstract of the Disclosure, and the subject matter described above and shown in the drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a flyer machine having a reciprocally mounted bobbin carriage including a plurality of rows of spindles mounted thereon and a wall spaced from the rear of said bobbin carriage; a plurality of air nozzles positioned on the upper surface of said bobbin carriage at the front thereof, said air nozzles being directed toward said spindles for directing streams of air across said bobbin carriage toward said spindles and wall.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a deflector positioned at the rear of the upper surface of said bobbin carriage for directing the streams of air from said nozzles downwardly between said bobbin carriage and said wall.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 2 wherein said deflector is secured to said bobbin carriage.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a gear trough spaced below said bobbin carriage for driving said spindles to form an exhaust slot between said bobbin carriage and said gear trough, and a reduced pressure means positioned adjacent said gear trough in communication with the space between said bobbin carriage and said gear trough through said exhaust slot and with the Space between said bobbin carriage and said wall for Withdrawing the streams of air therefrom.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 4 further comprising a second deflector positioned over the upper surface of said gear trough at the rear thereof for directing the streams of air from between said bobbin carriage and wall across said gear trough toward said exhaust slot.

6. The combination as set forth in claim 5 further comprising a plurality of auxiliary air nozzles disposed at the rear of said gear trough over the surface thereof for blowing auxiliary streams of air across said gear trough.

7. The combination as set forth in claim 6 further comprising first supply means connected to said nozzles for directing air therethrough, second supply means connected to said auxiliary nozzles for directing air therethrough, and means for actuating said first and second supply means sequentially.

8. The combination as set forth in claim 4 further comprising means extending from said bobbin carriage toward said gear trough covering the region between said bobbin carriage and said gear trough above said exhaust slot from the exterior of the machine.

9. The combination as set forth in claim 8 wherein said means is a flexible wall.

10. The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said nozzles are disposed angularly of the longitudinal axis of said bobbin carriage for directing streams of air with a component parallel to a current of air created by rotation of the row of spindles adjacent said wall.

11. The combination as set forth in claim 10 wherein said nozzles are directed substantially parallel to the alignment of neighboring spindles of adjacent rows of spindles.

12. The combination as set forth in claim 4 further comprising supply means connected to said air nozzles for directing air therethrough, and switch means for actuating said supply means and said reduced pressure means, said switch means being positioned in the region of the lowermost position of said bobbin carriage.

13. The combination as set forth in claim 12 wherein said switch means actuates said supply means and said reduced pressure means simultaneously.

14. A method of pneumatically cleaning a bobbin carriage of a flyer machine having a plurality of rows of rotatable spindles thereon, comprising the steps of directing at least one stream of air across the top of said bobbin carriage from the front of said bobbin carriage toward said spindles and downwardly behind the rear of said bobbin carriage to the underside of said bobbin carriage and withdrawing the stream of air from the underside of said bobbin carriage.

15. A method as set forth in claim 14 which further comprises the step of directing said stream of air across said bobbin carriage during rotation of said spindles.

16. A method as set forth in claim 14 further comprising the step of directing at least one auxiliary air stream below said bobbin carriage from the rear of said carriage toward the front.

17. A method as set forth in claim 14 wherein the stream of air is withdrawn under suction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,982,997 12/1934 Linder 57-56 XR 2,481.197 9/1949 Caille 57-34.5 XR 2,487,361 11/1949 Nims 57-56 2,651,473 9/ 1953 Siegenthaler.

2,910,719 11/1959 Long 57-56 XR 3,306,024 2/1967 Breuning 57-56 XR FRANK J. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

WERNER H. SCHROEDER, Assistant Examiner. 

